Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
Theories are academic models or frameworks that are developed to help
explain or predict certain phenomena. They are generally discipline-specific
and often build upon or even contradict one another.
Practice is the application of knowledge or skills in a given situation. It might involve describing experiences we have had, explaining the way one has created or designed something, or imagining what might happen in a real-life situation.
Acquiring theoretical knowledge without the ability to actualise such
knowledge is as useless as not acquiring it, as we have seen in the case of Dr.
Mahamudu Bawumia who only propounds theoretical knowledge without an
incline on how to link it to practice.
The nexus between theory and practice is important, as it demonstrates the ability to use evidence to increase understanding of key concepts, justify decision-making, and inform future practices. The strength of this theory-practice connection also contributes to the evidence of one’s critical thinking, growth, and impact on society.
Ultimately, linking theory to practice shows that one understands the connections between what they have learned and how that knowledge is applied in the real world to impact and positively change lives. Undoubtedly, this is Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s trump card, which will make the next NDC government extremely successful.
Only leaders who have the ability to apply what they have learned into the real
world are able to make an impact and make things happen; they are called
pragmatic leaders.
Even though I’m a believer in gender equality and the need to give women the
opportunity to contribute to national development, my focus is mainly on the
competence of women. Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang is a competent and
dynamic academic with an impeccable record in linking theory to practice. She
is not only an intelligent woman; she is a woman of excellent, very honest,
innovative and result-oriented.
Before and during the 2016 general elections, Dr. Bawumia was touted as one
of the best economists in Ghana; this was the main reason he was chosen by
President Akufo-Addo and received a waiver from the party’s then-general
Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow, even though he was not a member of the New
Patriotic Party, and he delivered series of economic lectures where he espoused
his knowledge of economic theories.
The general belief was that the economic Messiah had arrived. The NPP was
voted into power largely because of this conviction. However, Ghanaians have
now realised the difference between knowing theory and how to apply it. On the other hand, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the running mate to H.E. John Dramani Mahama, has long demonstrated that she is a pragmatic academic whose ability to link theory to practice is incontestable. She has made an impact in every endeavour of her life.
With the application of her acquired knowledge, she has positively changed lives and improved communities and institutions. With her extensive experience across diverse spheres of life, including being the first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, and her exceptional achievements as the former Minister of Education, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang is an invaluable asset to Ghana.
Through her knowledge, she successfully championed many reforms, such as
the conversion of polytechnics into technical universities, upgrading Colleges
of Education into tertiary institutions, reducing teacher absenteeism from 27%
to 7% and introducing the unprecedented Private BECE.
The learned Professor also led negotiations with the World Bank, which secured
funds for Ghana to implement the flagship Secondary Education Improvement
Project and the African Centres of Excellence initiative, resulting in the
establishment and funding for the West African Centre for Crop Improvement
(WACCI).
Moreover, she was pivotal in the West African Centre for Cell Biology of
Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) both at the University of Ghana and the
Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre (RWESC) at the Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang supervised Ghana's overall best-performing WASSCE
nation award by WAEC for four consecutive years when she served as Minister
and the massive retooling and infrastructural development which she tirelessly
delivered.
Through her initiatives, the quota system at the Colleges of Education was
abolished, which led to an increase in enrollment from 9,000 to 15,400, thereby
creating more teaching opportunities for the youth.
As an experienced educationist who understands the sector, she ensured
teachers were automatically posted without National Service and Licensure
Examinations and also recruited 2,400 mathematics and science teachers as a special intervention to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics and
science at the SHS level.
This is the difference between a pragmatic academic and a mere theorist like
Dr. Bawumia, who only understands the academic aspect of a problem without
inkling on the practical aspect.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, as a pragmatic vice president, will be focused on
accountability and meaningful actions to guide people to achieve the desired
levels of productivity for the development and progress of Ghana.
Ghana needs such a pragmatic, learned academic to partner with H.E. John Mahama and steer the affairs of this country towards economic and social growth.
